Harbour Bridge landscaping pays tribute to NZ heritage

Words uttered by a prominent Maori chief and
seven of New Zealand’s well known writers are being
painted on piers supporting the Auckland Harbour Bridge as part of the first stage of a landscaping project.

The paintings include excerpts of poetry
and prose written by Janet Frame, Bruce Mason, Frank
Sargeson, A.R.D Fairburn, Maurice Duggan, Kendrick Smithyman
and Robyn Hyde (Iris Wilkinson). There is also a quotation
from the Waitakere chief, Te Waatarauihi, speaking in 1860
of his relationship to the area.

The paintings are
known as ‘The Trestle Leg Series’ – engineers describe
the piers supporting both box girders (clip-ons) at Stokes
Point as trestle legs.

The NZTA
made a commitment to the Stokes Point community that the
area would be landscaped when its project to strengthen the
box girders on either side of the northern end of the harbour bridge was
completed.

The NZTA project team is
led by landscape architect Cathy Challinor from design
and environmental consultancy Boffa Miskell.

Local iwi
representatives and literary experts and artist Catherine
Griffiths contributed to the series, and specialist signage
companies, Signright and Designcraft, installed the work.

“It’s a unique opportunity to showcase heritage
important to Auckland and New Zealand in such a special and
public place,” says Challinor.

Stage 1 has cost around $150,000.
The second stage of the landscaping, also costing around
$150,000, will start later this year, including
improved lighting and paving, and more recognition of
natural and cultural landmarks acknowledging that Stokes
Point was previously home to a busy Maori community at Te
Onewa Pa.